Why in the News?

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have unveiled a brain-inspired analog computing platform that can store and process data in 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. This innovative 'brain on a chip' technology, published in Nature, offers a significant advance over traditional digital computers.

Neuromorphic Computing

• It is a method of computer engineering in which elements of a computer are modeled after systems in the human brain and nervous system.
• Introduced By: Carver Mead
• The concept was introduced in the 1980s.
• The term refers to the design of both hardware and software computing elements that replicate the brain's processing and learning abilities.
• It operates asynchronously, processing data based on events rather than in a clock-driven manner.
• It aims to achieve high computational efficiency with minimal energy consumption.
• It incorporates synaptic plasticity mechanisms, letting them learn and adapt based on experience, like how the brain adjusts neural connections over time.
• Neuromorphic Chips Example: IBM’s TrueNorth and Intel’s Loihi.
• It could potentially bring complex AI tasks, such as training Large Language Models (LLMs) — like ChatGPT — to personal devices like laptops and smartphones.
• The technology addresses two major hurdles in AI development: lack of optimal hardware and energy inefficiency.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

• Established:1909
• Location: Bengaluru
• It was established with a collaborative effort by industrialist Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata, the Government of India and the Maharaja of Mysore.
• It is India's premier research institution, renowned for its advanced education and cutting-edge research in science, engineering, and technology.
• It houses one of the most powerful supercomputers in India.